Office Window

I am mostly retired but I do work 3 days a week answering the phone at church. Its enough to keep me from being bored. Today I was very entertained with the wildlife out the window. If you remember, I was having issues with squirrels due to food change. I can assure you that safflower seeds work in keeping squirrels from your feeder. I still get chickadees, house finches, cardinal, titmouse, and occasional sparrows.

But today, something was very scary about the feeder. It looked to be a monster that could devourer…

I guess the slinky did look kind of odd, but it is effective – no squirrels today. I know they are resilient and may come back, so we will see. There were at least ten of them sitting on the outer branches waiting on someone to get brave enough to go first. And finally it did.

Then they all tried to come at once…

But the cutest thing was a parent and a fledgling or maybe it was just a demanding bird begging to be fed…

It was very entertaining. It was a good example of kindness in the animal kingdom. We should all strive to be kind to all things at all times. Kindness matters.

Purposeful Pain

Weird title, I know. But its true. There are acceptable pains we create on purpose – things we do anyway knowing we will pay for it later. Like going on a long hike to see nature, knowing you will have medicine and cold packs in bed with you that night.

Today its a different type of pain – its food related. Sketty. Most people with higher culinary talents call it spaghetti. While this is a common delicious dish, to those of us who have issues with tomato acid – its a night…and the following morning…of uncomfortable times. But sometimes you plan ahead, knowing what its going to do because you just have to have that taste.

Once the veggies are sautéed, you brown the meatballs in that remaining juice. Its add extra flavor to the meat.

Then you take the remaining pound of ground beef – (yes I use two pounds. If you are gonna hurt you gotta make it worth your while) and sauté it with fresh garlic – so yummy.

You add in your sauces, pour in your sautéed veggies and meatballs then let it simmer slowly for about 5 hours. The large green chunks are big pieces of celery. My daughter says celery is awful, and makes things taste bad. So I cook them in large chunks and remove them when ready to serve. What she doesn’t know wont hurt her. Yes that sounds sneaky but she loves eating my sketty, so…

Thank you for joining in on my delicious and possible uncomfortable dish. You know we all do this.

Remember to always share kindness when you can. It will put a bright spot in their day.

30-50-30

No, that is not a fertilizer combination…its the temperature combinations of a February roller coaster in Iowa. Last night we dropped below freezing…with rain equaling – freezing rain and ice. Now we are waiting the 2 inches of snow due to start by 12:00pm…oh, it is 12:00 pm. Yep, a quick look out the window and its snowing. Yeah…not really. So what do we do with weather like this? Easy…we eat!!

I was late getting started but I finally bought an air fryer. And its awesome. I rotissered( I know that is not a real word…but you get it) a whole chicken in 62 minutes and it was yummy. So today, I pulled the remaining meat off the bones and made chicken salad. Yum!!

Then I took the carcass and put it in a big ole soup pot to make homemade chicken broth soup for supper – letting it cook real slow all day – more yum!

So what do you do on poor climate days? I eat!!! LOL.

Have a great day and remember to be kind. Regardless of what the weather is doing, you can always be kind.

Combatting the Blues

Oh, what to do when we feel so blue?

Sadness or sickness making us go boo-hoo.

So we remember things that make us smile

Like puppies in a row all standing single file

But there are other things that can make you feel better

Like hugs from a friend or maybe a sweet letter

So today, as I still struggle with this ole cold

I’ve made a decision and will try to be bold

No more whining and carrying about

A comfort food will make my happiness sprout

And what better way, in my opinion

Than warm noodle soup and my friend the minion.

Me and my minion friend are wish you a happy day filled with smiles to mark your way.

And remember as you go your way, sprinkle kindness along to brighten the day.

5 Things Tuesday, 5 Favorite Canned Goods

What a fun, never though of, challenge hosted by Salted Caramel, our 5 favorite canned goods. Some things we know we have to have brand specific but I have found that now that I am in the Midwest, some brands are not available so I do the best I can.

Top of the list is Le Sueur (must be brand specific) Very Young Small Sweet Peas. If I cant have fresh peas from my garden, then this is the only brand where they don’t taste like hard tasteless mush.

The next must have brand is Hunts Tomatoes. I prefer the petite diced but that isn’t a game changer.

I am a big legume eater so my favorite brand is Bush’s. Mostly stick with Black eyes or baked. Loving growing other varieties in my garden.

Coming originally from the south, I am big on the leafy greens but refuse to clean fresh one, so I get canned. Turnip greens are hard to find here but I can get Spinach pretty easily. Popeye’s is the only brand I have found up here and it will do.

And to sweeten the list lets add my favorite fruit. Libby’s Bartlett Pears. Served on a slice of lettuce, topped with HELMANN’S mayonnaise and shredded cheese.

Its been fun to think about can goods that have become a staple for our kitchen.

And as always I close with my usual reminder that in all you do, remember to be kind. You may be at that specific moment, the only kind act someone has seen that day. Enjoy and think about this profound statement.

Always be kind.

What do you see #39

WHAT DO I SEE??? What do you mean!! Look at these prices! How’s a mouse gonna survive? But look… they are buying P-nut butter for the DOG! I like P-nut butter. Why can’t they buy P-nut butter for the mouse. No, no. They expect me to grovel for mere crumbs for food. I already lost my home and having to live in this open basket. What if it rains…WHAT IF THEY HAVE A CAT!??! There is just no respect I tell you, just no respect!!

What a fun picture for “What do you see #39”. Tie in with Sadje and Keep It Alive and join the fun.

And remember as always, try to be kind.

kind right 2

Fun Foto Challenge: Man Made

With this challenge from Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge the gate is wide open. The first thing that popped in my mind was the new I-74 bridge connecting Illinois to Iowa or the other way around. It has been fascinating watching this huge thing go up, then they will tear the old one down. I give you a before and after scenario with one side of the arch almost complete and the the closing of the arch. When you think of the power and amount of water that goes down the Mississippi at any given moment, this is amazing.

The other side of man made which hits closer to home…and my kitchen as “home made”, with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast includes a good southern helping of buttered grits covering scrambled eggs that are smothered in sausage gravy. Lunch is scrambled dogs (how you spread three chili dogs for 4 people) and Dinner is fried pork chop, turnip greens, black-eyes and tomato gravy on buttered toast.

The following are a few other photos I took that are worth mentioning with man made. The wooden statue on the end was of a tree that died so the owner carved a knight out of what was left. The home now is a home for those trying to get back on their feet.

In this fun of looking at Man Made items, remember one of the easiest, least expensive and most beautiful things man can make is…kindness.

kind unexpected

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Tasting

Coming from the southern states of the US, we have a different idea on taste I think that most states as it seems to be more of a “foody” area than other states I have lived in. Now that I am in the midwest, I am not seeing the taste variety. Cee has challenged us this week for the sense of taste and tasting is a high sensory in my book.

My lunch of leftover BBQ chicken legs, corn and peas from last was pretty tasty and now I are going to top it off with homemade pound cake covered in blueberries with whipped cream. Mmmmm.

Can you add too much whipped cream…maybe… if you use the entire container on one item.

Some people prefer the “fru-fru” food as I call it, where it is prettier to look at and not much quantity. Not me. I want rib sticking food with good flavor and plenty of it.

Or if you want it all running together, that’s okay too, especially for breakfast.

But regardless of your favorite dishes, while food is for sustenance, it must also be tasty and enjoyed. It brings about conversations at mama’s house. So while you are savoring thoughts of you favorite dishes, remember to think on kindness. Kindness is needed now to help strengthen out hope through this current crisis.

kindness hope

JusJoJan, January 2nd

Linda Hill has created again the fun monthly task of Just Jot January to help us get on track for the new year and to have fun doing it.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 2nd, 2020, is “a picture you’ve taken in the last week.”

Well, seeing that yesterday was January 1, find enclosed the picture of the meal prepared yesterday in honor of Gladys, my mother. She would have been proud.

Hope your new year meal was a grand as mine and since it was a good start, lets remember this is only day 2 and we have plenty of time in the year to do what is right by being kind in all we do.

kind30

Food for a Dreary Day, #SoCS

Last night was a fantastic night at a Home Free Concert. If you are not familiar with them check out the video below. They are an awesome a Capella country group that makes all their instrument sounds with their own mouths – their percussionist Adam is unreal.

That being said, getting home after midnight is way past my bedtime so today is a sit at home, drippy rainy day of watching football and eating tasty fast food.

IMG_20191005_130441

Linda G. Hill’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “-tast-.” Find a word that contains “tast” and use it in your post. Enjoy!

Even on a quiet stay at home day, you can still spread kindness. Its not always about seeing people face to face but having a tastefully kind spirit in all that you do.

butter